ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Finance
28th edition of Status Report on India’s External Debt 2021-22 released
The External Debt Management Unit  in the Department of economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, has released 28th edition of the Status Report on India’s External Debt 2021-22.
India’s external debt, at US$ 620.7 billion as at end-March 2022, grew by 8.2 per cent over US$ 573.7 billon as at end-March 2021. While 53.2 per cent of it was denominated in US dollar, Indian rupee denominated debt, estimated at 31.2 per cent, was the second largest.
External debt as a ratio to GDP fell marginally to 19.9 per cent as at end-March 2022 from 21.2 per cent a year ago. Foreign currency reserves as a ratio to external debt stood slightly lower at 97.8 per cent as at end-March 2022 than 100.6 per cent a year ago.
The long-term debt estimated at US$ 499.1 billion, constituted the largest chunk of 80.4 per cent, while the short-term debt, at US$ 121.7 billion, accounted for 19.6 per cent of the total. The short-term trade credit was predominantly in the form of trade credit  financing imports.
Commercial borrowings , NRIs deposits, short-term trade credit and multilateral loans together accounted for 90 per cent of the total external debt. While NRI deposits marginally contracted during end-March 2021 and end-March 2022, CBs, short-term trade credit and multilateral loans, on the other hand, expanded during the same period. The rise in CBs, short-term trade credit and multilateral loans together was significantly larger than the contraction in NRI deposits.
As at end-March 2022, sovereign external debt  amounted to US$ 130.7 billion, increasing by 17.1 per cent over the level a year ago, reflecting the additional allocation of SDRs by the IMF during 2021-22. SDRs rose to US$ 22.9 billion from US$ 5.5 billion as at end-March 2021. FPI holding of G-Sec, on the other hand, slid to US$ 19.5 billion from US$ 20.4 billion a year ago.
Non-sovereign external debt, estimated at US$ 490.0 billion as at end-March 2022, posted a growth of 6.1 per cent over the level a year ago. CBs, NRI deposits, and short-term trade credit accounted for about 95 per cent of non-sovereign debt., The short-term trade credit rose substantially by 20.7 per cent to US$ 117.4 billion as at end-March 2022 on the back of a surge in imports during 2021-22.
The debt service ratio fell to 5.2 per cent during 2021-22 from 8.2 per cent during 2020-21 due to buoyancy in current receipts and a decline in debt service payments. The debt service payment obligations arising out of the stock of external debt as at end-March 2022 are projected to trend downwards over the coming years.
In a cross-country perspective, India’s external debt is modest, occupying 23th position globally. In terms of various debt vulnerability indicators, India’s sustainability was better than the Low-and-Middle Income Countries  as a group and vis-à-vis many of them individually.
Click on the following link to access the Status Report:
https://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/India%27s%20External%20Debt%20-%20A%20Status%20Report%202021-22.pdf
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
PRICE INCREASE OF RAW MATERIALS
The National Small Industries Corporation Limited  a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise  facilitates MSMEs to meet their raw material requirement by making arrangements with bulk manufacturers for procuring the materials and supplying the same to MSMEs. NSIC also provides financial assistance to MSMEs under their Raw Material Assistance  Scheme against bank guarantee for payment to the suppliers. The issue of regular increase in prices of raw materials specifically post-pandemic was regularly taken up by NSIC with the bulk producers. Further, the Government of India has taken several measures to deal with the issue of rise in raw materials including MSME sector, which include:
- To ensure enhanced production and availability of iron ore and steel, steps like reforms in mining and mineral policy early operationalization of forfeited working mines of Odisha by the State/Central PSUs and ramping up production and capacity utilization by steel producers have been taken by the Government.
- In Union Budget 2021-22, Customs Duty has been reduced uniformly to 7.5% on Semis, Flat and Long products of non-alloy, alloy and stainless steels. Further, Basic Custom Duty  on steel scrap has been exempted for a period up to 31st March, 2022. In addition to the above, ADD and CVD on certain steel products have also been revoked / temporarily revoked.
- To give relief to secondary and MSME sector steel industry engaged in Housing/construction sector, TMT bars below 8 mm have been exempted from the purview of the Quality Control Order, as these are primarily used for non-critical applications.
- Ministry of Steel has also issued clarifications to CPWD, MoRTH etc. that steel produced through various routes of production using iron ore, steel scrap and DRI should be treated at par if the steel produced conforms to the relevant BIS standards.
This information was given by Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Narayan Rane in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
Access to Working Capital for MSMEs
The Government has taken a number of initiatives for providing financial assistance to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises  to cope with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including access to working capital. These include the following:
- Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme  - maximum project cost is Rs. 25 lakh, which includes capital expenditure and working capital.
- Credit Guarantee Scheme  - maximum 85% guarantee is extended upto credit facility of Rs. 200 lakh, for both term loan and working capital. As per the Budget Announcement 2022-23, to facilitate an increased flow of credit, Rs. 2 lakh crore additional credit facility will be provided to Micro & Small Enterprises under this scheme.
- Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme  - announced as part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Package in May, 2020 to provide Collateral free Automatic Loans for businesses, including MSMEs. Initially, the admissible limit of the guarantee was Rs. 3 lakh crore which was later enhanced to Rs. 4.5 lakh crore. As per the Budget Announcement 2022-23, the ECLGS is being extended up to March 2023 with an expanded guarantee cover of Rs. 5 lakh crore. The additional guarantee cover of Rs. 50,000 crore is earmarked exclusively for the hospitality and related enterprises.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Shri Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Ministry of Jal Shakti
IN 2023-24, Gross Budgetary Support of Rs.70,000 Crore Proposed for Implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission
To enable every rural household in the country to have potable tap water supply by 2024, through tap water connection at a service level of 55 litre per capita per day , of prescribed quality , on regular and long-term basis, Government of India, in partnership with States, is implementing Jal Jeevan Mission  – Har Ghar Jal, since August, 2019.
At the time of announcement of Jal Jeevan Mission in August 2019, 3.23 Crore  rural households were reported to have tap water connections. So far, as reported by States/ UTs as on 09.03.2023, additional 8.15 Crore rural households have been provided with tap water connections under JJM. Thus, as on 09.03.2023, out of 19.42 Crore rural households in the country, more than 11.38 Crore  households are reported to have tap water supply in their homes.
Details of Central funds allocated, funds drawn and fund utilization as reported by the States/ UTs under Jal Jeevan Mission is as under –

|
|
|
|
Central
|
|
Expenditure under State share
|
|
Centre + State Expenditure
|
|
Year
|
|
BE/ RE
|
|
Fund drawn by States
|
|
Reported utilization
|
|
2019-20
|
|
10,000.66
|
|
9,951.81
|
|
5,998.89
|
|
4,066.88
|
|
10,065.77
|
|
2020-21
|
|
11,000.00
|
|
10,917.86
|
|
12,542.03
|
|
7,803.36
|
|
20,345.39
|
|
2021-22
|
|
45,011.00
|
|
40,009.77
|
|
25,524.36
|
|
18,679.87
|
|
44,204.23
|
|
2022-23|
|
55,000.00
|
|
34,765.79
|
|
38,195.23
|
|
28,802.76
|
|
66,997.99
|
|
Total
|
|
1,21,011.66
|
|
95,645.23
|
|
82,260.51
|
|
59,352.87
|
|
1,41,613.38As on 09.03.2023 Source: JJM-IMIS
In 2023-24, Gross Budgetary Support  of Rs.70,000 Crore has been proposed for implementation of the mission, which is Rs. 15000 crore more than the Budgetary provision of Rs. 55000 crore for 2022-23 The State/ UT-wise allocation of funds under the JJM is decided as per the provisions of its Operational Guidelines.
Under JJM, while allocating the funds to States/ UTs for provisioning tap water connection, 10% weightage has been given to the population residing in habitations affected by chemical contaminants including Arsenic and Fluoride. Further, States/ UTs have been advised up to 2% of allocated fund could be utilised in water quality monitoring and surveillances. However, separate allocation is not done for water quality affected areas, including those that are affected with arsenic or fluoride.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel in a
written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari to lay the Foundation Stone for widening of 90 Km of Ramjanaki Marg and other NH works worth Rupees 1224 crore in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow
Foundation Stone also to be laid for development of River Ghaghra - National Waterway 40
The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping, Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Shri Nitin Gadkari will lay the foundation stone for widening and improvement of Rs 1224 crore worth of National Highways works in Uttar Pradesh tomorrow. The projects include widening and improvement of Ramjanaki Marg  from Ayodhya Cantt to Rampur  at a cost of Rs 315 crore, and 35 km from Rampur to Sikriganj at a cost of Rs 250 crore. Shri Gadkari will also lay the foundation for the 14 km long Basti Ring Road Phase 1 which is to be constructed at a cost of Rs 450 crore, and the widening and improvement of the 35 km long Badhni -Shoratganj section of NH-730, to be undertaken for a cost of Rs 200 crore.
In addition to the NH works, Shri Gadkari will also lay the foundation stone for the development of 354 km long section of River Ghaghra from Faizabad to Manjhighat.
The functions will be held at Kisan College, Civil Lines, Basti and Shivpati Degree College Hostel Ground, Chhatehri, District Siddarthnagar in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
President's Secretariat
Press Communique
The President of India is pleased to appoint Shri Kaptan Singh Solanki, Governor of Haryana to discharge the functions of the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, in addition to his own duties, during the absence, on leave, of Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Himachal Pradesh.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Budget allocation for Family Planning
The budget for Family Planning is more than 2.5 per cent of the total Reproductive Child Health  flexi-pool budget. The budget for family planning in 2018-19 was 15.5% percent of the total Reproductive Child Health flexi-pool budget.
12.7% of the budget was allocated for core FP activities; 0.6% for FP trainings and 2.2% for Program Management.
States propose funds in their National Health Mission- Programme Implementation Plans as per theirpriorities and felt need, hence there is no pre-determined percentage allocated tospecific methods.
The Minister of State , Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Centre extends import of Tur and Urad under ‘Free category’ for another year, till 31st March, 2023
The decision to ensure seamless import of these pulses to augment the domestic availability and ensure affordable rates for consumers
In yet another proactive and pre-emptive measure to augment domestic availability and stabilize prices of essential food commodities, the Centre today notified the decision to keep the import of Tur and Urad under ‘Free category’ till March 31, 2023.
The decision has put to rest the speculations regarding the import policy regime for Tur and Urad in the coming financial year  and it also signals a stable policy regime which will benefit all the stakeholders. The measure will ensure seamless import of these pulses to augment the domestic availability. It is expected that sufficient availability of these pulses will make them available to the consumer at affordable prices.
The Government had allowed the import of Tur, Urad, and Moong under the ‘Free category’ w.e.f May 15, 2021, till October 31, 2021, in order to ensure smooth and seamless imports. The Free regime in respect of import of Tur and Urad was thereafter extended till March 31, 2022. This policy measure has been supported with facilitation measures and close monitoring of its implementation by the concerned Departments/organization.
As per the official statistics of the Department of Consumer Affairs , the All India Average Retail Price of Tur Dal as reported on 28.03.2022 is Rs.102.99 per kilogram, which is a drop of 2.4% from the price of Rs. 105.46 per kilogram on 28.03.2021. The All India Average Retail Price of Urad Dal as reported on 28.03.2022 is Rs. 104.3 per kilogram, which is 3.62% less than the price of Rs.108.22 per kilogram on 28.03.2021.AM/NS
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Japan on Development of Advanced Model Single Window
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding between India and Japan on Development of Advanced Model Single Window.
Benefits:
The MoU would lead to cooperation between India and Japan on the development of ‘Advanced Model Single Window’ and its operationalization in Central and State Governments in India for taking administrative procedures necessary for business operations, and to develop a structure in which those procedures are completed in an expeditious manner, so as to accelerate India’s effort to promote Ease of Doing Business in India. The ‘Advanced Model Single Window’ is based on the best practices in and outside India, with measurable parameters and identify possible obstacles for establishment of the Single Window in India. It will thus, facilitate investments.
AYUSH
Ensure time-bound Infrastructure development of Ayush National Institutes/Central Councils projects: Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
Ministry of Ayush has fast tracked up-gradation and construction of various Ayush Infrastructure across the country
A meeting to review the construction projects of the Ayush National Councils and National institutes was held under the chairmanship of Minister of Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. Minister of State for Ayush Dr. Munjapara Mahendrabhai, Shri Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vice Chancellor, Directors and Director Generals of Ayush Institutes/Central Councils along with project management consultant’s representative participated in this meeting.
Ministry of Ayush aims to create a world class Ayush infrastructure across the country, which will be pivotal to drive India's Ayush revolution. Almost, 41 Ayush infrastructure projects, which includes new building and up gradation of present National institutes/Central Councils is being planned at an estimated cost of Rs. 1955.45 crores across the country.
On this occasion, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said that time-bound infra development of National Institutes, Central Councils is a prime focus area, which will enable Ayush to better serve humanity. He gave directions for fast completion of all works for benefit of the people.
The Minister further added that building of Ayush infrastructure should be approached in same way as Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji's holistic infrastructure development scheme “GatiShakti”. Ayush officials and project management consultants should take serious note of this action philosophy.
Ministry of Ayush key Infrastructure projects include establishing satellite institutes of four National Institutes, phase – II campus of All India Institute of Ayurveda , New Delhi, North Eastern Institute of Ayurveda and Homeopathy  at Shillong. Other key projects includes Ayush wing at AIIMS, NCI at Jhajjar, Nisarg Gram at NIN, Pune and others. The prominent project management consultants, who have been engaged for these projects are NPCC Ltd., WAPCOS Ltd., NBCC  Ltd. CPWD, MECON and PWD.
Last week minister inaugurated Ayush building complex at Kharghar in Navi Mumbai. This complex will house the regional Research Institute of Homoeopathy , under Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy  and Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine  under Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine .
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Special Training Programme for Maldivian Civil Servants to be conducted from 16th-28th September
The Special Training Program for Maldivian Civil Servants under the India-Maldives MoU on Training and Capacity Building Programme between the National Centre for Good Governance  and the Maldives Civil Service Commission  will be conducted from September 16-28, 2019 at Mussoorie and Delihi. A 32 member Maldives delegation arrived at the NCGG, campus in Mussoorie.
The inaugural session of the Special Training Program for Maldivian Civil Servants to be held on September 16, 2019 and would be chaired by Shri K. V. Eapen, Secretary DARPG, Ms. Fatimath Amira, Member Civil Services Commission and Shri V. Srinivas, Additional Secretary DARPG. This would be followed by sessions on Public Policy and Governance, Ethics and Accountability and Redressal of Public Grievances, Motivation, Innovation, Sustainable Development Goals, Promoting Tourism, Regional Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, India – Maldives Relations along with visits to Unique Identification Authority, Passport Sewa Kendra and Election Commission of India.
Senior policy makers from Government of India including Shri K.V.Eapen, Secretary DARPG, Shri Sanjeev Chopra, Director LBSNAA, Shri V.Srinivas, Additional Secretary DARPG, Shri Akhilesh Mishra, Director General ICCR, Shri Padamvir Singh, former Director LBSNAA, Siraj Hussain, former Secretary Agriculture, would be addressing the participants in the 2 week training program. Dr. Aly Shameem, Chairman of the Civil Services Commission of Maldives would address the valedictory session on September 28, 2019.
The Prime Minister of India in his visit to Maldives in June 2019, had emphasised India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and assured India's full support to Maldives in realising its aspirations for broad based socio-economic development and strengthening of democratic and independent institutions. One of the MoUs signed during the visit was between the National Center for Good Governance, India and the Civil Services Commission of Maldives which envisaged capacity building activities for 1000 Civil Servants of Maldives at the National Centre for Good Governance over the next 5 years. Under the MOU, 10 training programmes will be conducted from September 2019 to December 2020. The first 3 training programs under the MOU would be held in 2019  September 16-28, 2019 and November 18-30, 2019 for 60 officers of the middle management level  December 2-14, 2019 for 30 officers of top management level.
India is the largest development partner for capacity building of Maldivian Civil Servants. A unique feature of the special training program is that 70 percent of the delegates are women officials. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, PG and Pensions conveyed his good wishes for successful conduct of the Special Training Program for Maldivian Civil Servants.
Ministry of Home Affairs
NSG can counter any kind of attack: Shri Rajnath Singh
Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh said that the National Security Guard  is a world class ‘zero error’ force and can counter any kind of attack in minimum response time. He was inaugurating the 28 Special Composite Group  Complex of NSG at Ibrahimpatnam in Hyderabad today. Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the NSG which comprises of army and paramilitary forces has multi-dimensional responsibility of countering terrorist attacks/hijack attempts and also providing proximate security. He said that the NSG Hub has state of the art training facilities of global standards. The NSG also undertakes joint exercises with state police forces thereby helping in increasing their professional capabilities. He further said that with a view to decrease response time after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the government has set up National Security Hubs at Mumbai , Chennai , Hyderabad , Kolkata  and Gandhinagar .
The Minister said that terrorism which has become universal is posing new challenges through social media too, and security forces need to strengthen their technical capabilities to counter these challenges. Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated the 16 members NSG team which would attempt to scale Mount Everest in 2019. He said NSG is better than best forces, and expressed confidence that the force would counter any challenge efficiently and effectively.
Earlier, welcoming the gathering Shri Sudeep Lakhtakia, DG, NSG, said that the NSG hub at Hyderabad has the states of Chathisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha under its purview.
He said the NSG has conducted joint exercises with USA, and France as part of its capacity building efforts. The NSG has countered 115 terrorist attacks and have been awarded 3 Ashok Chakras, 3 Keerti Chakras, 3 Shourya Chakras, 109 Police medals, which stand as a testimony to the NSG’s competence. The NSG hub at Ibrahimpatnam, Hydrabad is a green campus spread over sprawling 200 acres and constructed in an eco-friendly manner, he added.
Shri E.S.L. Narasimhan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Shri Nayini Narasimha Reddy, Minister for Home Affairs, Government of Telangana and several senior police officials were present.
A demonstration to showcase the capabilities of the NSG personnel in combat, attacks and other situations was also organised.